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Enlarge ImageRequest to buy this photoDavid J. Phillip | Associated PressFifth-round draft pick AJ McCarron’s history of winning national championships with Alabama was enticing to the Bengals.

CINCINNATI — A cornerback who sees a little of himself in Darrelle Revis. A tall defensive end
who is similar to Michael Johnson, even sharing his jersey number.

The Bengals think they have upgraded two important areas by getting cornerback Darqueze Dennard
and defensive end Will Clarke in the NFL draft. They also brought in a center who could start right
away and a running back who could be pretty close behind.

“You feel good about it at the end,” coach Marvin Lewis said.

And for their most intriguing move, they formed a new throw-and-catch tandem.

Get ready for AJ-to-A.J. In practice, anyway.

The Bengals got a big-game quarterback to back up Andy Dalton yesterday, drafting Alabama’s AJ
McCarron in the fifth round. McCarron, runner-up to Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston, still was
available for the 164th overall pick.

McCarron’s history of winning national championships was enticing to the Bengals, who haven’t
been able to win with Dalton in the playoffs. Still, the pecking order is set for the foreseeable
future. It will be Dalton throwing to A.J. Green.

“I’m confident in myself, but at the same time, I know Andy’s the QB out there and I respect
that,” McCarron said. “All I want to do is go in and help us in whatever way I can.

“If that means me holding the clipboard for a couple of years and giving Andy reports during the
week and watching film with him and helping him in any way I can, I’m just ready to do it.”

Dalton led the Bengals to the playoffs in each of his first three seasons, only to have some of
his worst games. The Bengals lost their opening-round game all three seasons, falling to 0-5 in the
postseason under Lewis.

The Bengals haven’t won a playoff game since 1990, equaling the sixth-longest streak of
postseason futility in NFL history.

Although Dalton is entering the final year on his deal, he and the Bengals are discussing an
extension, and the club has been unwavering in its support. When it comes to developing his
backups, Cincinnati hasn’t had as much success.

The Bengals signed Jason Campbell in the offseason, their third different backup in the past
three years. They still have Josh Johnson, who was No. 2 last season. Dalton had expected them to
draft a backup in a later round and try to develop him.

At least, initially, there’s not much of a commitment to McCarron.

“We tell all our quarterbacks here: You may not start here, but if you come here and you grow
and you prepare and you learn, you may have to play someplace else in your career — we never know
how that’s going to unfold — but what we’re going to do is create an environment where our
quarterbacks can be the best that they can be,” offensive coordinator Hue Jackson said.

With Dalton getting most of the plays in practice and Campbell trying to grow into the backup
role, McCarron will get his best chance to throw to Green and the other receivers before and after
practice.

The Bengals moved up 12 spots in the fourth round — only the third time in franchise history
that they have traded up in a round — to get center Russell Bodine from North Carolina. He will
compete for the starting job left open when Kyle Cook was released.